If there’s one thing I enjoy, it’s rock and roll. I love it because it’s so aggressive and it combines perfect elements of electric guitar, bass and drums. What makes it even better is how rock bands can combine these sounds to make amazing tunes that can range from aggressive workout music to easy running music. I would not have gotten into rock and roll if it hadn’t been for my dad. I still remember it like it was yesterday.
It was late at night, and I was about 8. My dad and I had stopped by Barnes and Nobel to pick up a “Spiderwick Chronicles” book. Before we left my dad picked up a CD and said that he used to listen to this band all the time. I still remember what it was: AC/DC’s first album from back in the 70s, “High Voltage”. He asked me if I had even listened to AC/DC before, and I said I hadn’t. He put the album in, and I was blown away.
The first song; “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)”, hit my eardrums like a freight train. The combination of electric guitars and bagpipes was like a soothing melody for my brain. I loved it! We listened to the entire album, and every song was a perfect melody to me.
After that, he got every single AC/DC album, and I was a fan of each one. Personally, I really like their album “Highway to Hell.” There are so many good songs on that album. This is the album that got me into more rock and roll groups like The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Motley Crue, Jimi Hendrix and so many more. If I hadn’t been exposed to music like that as a kid, I wouldn’t have had the appreciation for classic rock like I do now.
AC/DC is the reason why I first got into rock and roll. They have a plethora of great songs, but here are my top 10.
10). “Back in Black“
This song brought AC/DC back into the spotlight. After the unfortunate death of Bon Scott, Brian Johnson stepped up to the plate and brought in one of their most popular songs. This song has been played a lot in movies and TV shows. An epic guitar theme and aggressive sound make this the perfect song for anyone who wants to make a comeback.
9). “Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap”
This song just makes you feel like a hitman, which is what the song is about. The epic guitar and bass riffs make this song for me.
8) “Baby Please Don’t Go“
While this is a cover song of a classic, AC/DC added their own flair to it. They were able to add in their sound to this classic song, making it epic to listen to.
7). “Thunderstruck“
This song is well known for the opening guitar riff and it gets the fire going for anyone who wants an epic introduction. Listening to this makes you feel like you have been thunderstruck by the gods of rock and roll.
6). “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got it)”
This song has been used in movies like “The Longest Yard” and “Final Destination 5”, and it’s so aggressive which I enjoy in a good rock song.
5).” High Voltage“
Before there was “Thunderstruck”, there was “High voltage.” This song is what rock and roll is supposed to be: powerful enough to supercharge and ignite the sparks inside of you. This is a great song for those looking for a boost in life.
4). “Highway to Hell“
This song shows the difference between Led Zeppelin and AC/DC fans. This song is a perfect road trip song for those long and boring car rides.
3). “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock and Roll)“
This song is well known for it’s creative use of bagpipes. Who would have thought bagpipes could make this song about the struggles of being a rock star even better? This is one of their more popular songs. It’s a perfect song to introduce to anyone wanting to get into rock and roll.
2). “Night Prowler“
This song may have caused some controversy because it was the favorite of serial killer Richard Ramirez. However, this song combines a slight horror movie element with the use of slow blues rhythms, making it such a great song to chill to. It makes me wonder why this song hasn’t been used in horror movies more.
1). “Jailbreak“
The amazing guitar chords and its lyrics just make this an amazing AC/DC song. It sounds so aggressive and tells a fascinating story about a man wanting to break out of jail. This song is so underrated but it’s one of my favorites. Give this song a listen, and you’ll understand why it’s number one on this list.
Ryan Hill can be reached at [email protected].
Tune in for Hill’s show “The Hills Have Vibes” on Sundays from noon – 2:30 p.m.